Magnificent effort boosts Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal by £4k
Edwina Gudgeon (pictured right), aged 39, of Elizabeth Avenue, has co-ordinated a collection for the appeal in Newbury and Hungerford and raised a total £4,335.
Mrs Gudgeon and her friends have been rattling collection tins over several of the last few weekends outside Tesco’s in Pinchington Lane and London Road, while her parents, Sally and Dennis Cryer, have done the same outside Tesco’s in Hungerford, where they live, with collections also made in Newbury and Hungerford town centres.
The cause, she said, was close to her heart, after her sister, Alice Walker, died of cancer aged 35, in July 2010.
“She was looked after at home by Marie Curie nurses,” said Mrs Gudgeon.
“I cried when the total was added up,” she added.
Lending a helping hand outside Tesco’s in Pinchington Lane recently was Newbury MP, Richard Benyon, who agreed to help after being emailed by Mrs Gudgeon: “I said: ‘I’ve seen you out in the town collecting for other charities and I don’t suppose you have the time to spare for Marie Curie?’” said Mrs Gudgeon, adding:
“He replied to say he would be there from 9am to 10am on Saturday. People stopped to talk to him and make a donation.”
John Rankin Infants and Junior schools were also involved in the fundraising after making a donation in favour of ditching their school uniform for a day on March 30 and wearing yellow instead - raising £374.
The only problem proved counting up a huge pile of donated coins: “I put it in a big suitcase to take to the NatWest bank in the Market Place - they have a big machine to count it!” she said.